State Senator Charleta Tavares, a Democrat, argued in voting against the bill that medical experts agree on pain-capability, stating that the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose a 20-week ban on abortions.

The bill was backed by Ohio Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, which called the 20-week ban “the new pro-life litmus test for Republican presidential contenders.”

Tavares said some tests for fetal anomalies are only available after 20 weeks.

“The 20-week abortion ban sacrifices the health and reproductive rights of women at their most vulnerable moment: most women targeted by this bill are suffering from medical complications with a wanted pregnancy,” said Kellie Copeland, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio.

The ban, if imposed, would affect a small number of pregnancies. Nearly 99 percent of abortions in the United States occur before 21 weeks, according to Planned Parenthood.

Ohio Right to Life spokeswoman Katherine Franklin said she expects the House to take up the bill in the fall.